Bridge deck finisher



Jan. 24, 1967 H. w. GoDBERsl-:N

BRIDGE DECK FINISHER Filed July 13, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1L m. mm QN mwmm Mb ma Nm Ow Om h n hv hwg @w i A Jan 24 1967 H. w. GoDBERsEN 3,299,736v

BRIDGE DECK FINISHER Filed July l5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 27, ry 22 im vzo /012/ 25 f fi? 5 5g Q /llld V l' 1 N VENTOR.

Haro/a h/ @aa/effen BY v HTTORMFY Jan- 24, 1967 H. w. GoDBERsl-:N 3,299,786

BRIDGE DECK FINI SHER Filed July l5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR y Haro/a h/ ha/erven 3,299,786 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 United States ePatent iiee 3,299,786 BRIDGE DECK FINISHER Harold W. Godbersen, Ida Grove, Iowa 51445 Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,045 4 Claims. (Cl. 94-45) My invention relates to a bridge deck finisher.

An object of my invention is to provide a device for finishing off concrete on bridges, or highways.

A further object of my invention is to providel a device which will include sections which can be arranged to accommodate any type of contour.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which is oscillatory in character to provide a reciprocating action to properly finish off the concrete.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable arrangement.

A further object of my invention is to provide a screed arrangement which is spring urged toward the concrete surface so as to provide a resilient action.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement which can be varied as to width and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a powering arrangement which will drive the finisher.

A further object of my invention is to provide a special arrangement whereby the finisher can be transported from place to place.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation ofthe finisher,

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of FIGURE l with fragmentary sections,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the screed arrangement,

FIGURE 4 is an end view of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a further side elevation of a portion of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 6 is a further detail of one of the end units.

FIGURE 7 is a detail of a portion of the vertically adjustable members,

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the adjusting arrangement,

FIGURE 9 is an end view of FIGURE 8,

FIGURE l0 is a detail of the rear end of the unit when being used with the transporting arrangement,

FIGURE 1l is a detail of the forward end of the unit when used with the transporting arrangement, and

FIGURE l2 is a sectional view of FIGURE 6 taken along the lines 12-12 thereof.

My invention contemplates the provision of a bridge deck finisher which is efficient in operation, completely adjustable, and which includes a variety of other advantages .as will be apparent from the description herein.

In describing my invention I have used the character 10 to designate horizontally mounted and transversely positioned angle members for providing the major portions of the carriage of the unit, the character 11 indicating inner angle members telescopically attached therewith, and being .adapted to be attached to the members 10 in any desired manner, the various members 10 and 11 being adapted to provide means for adjustably widening or narrowing the span of the unit. I have further used the character 12 to indicate transverse bracing angles, the character 13 indicating further bracing members, and the character 14 indicating vertically positioned braces, the character 15 indicating further braces, the braces 14 and 15 being secured to the lower angle members 16, the

character 17 indicating the further inner angle members engaged with the members 16.

The character 18 indicates a series of laterally spaced tubes or pipes attached to the various arms 19 and 20 which are pivotally secured at 21 to the framework members 10 and 11. The character 22 indicates further short arms attached to the members 18. The character 23 indicates vertically positioned collars which are pivotally secured at 23a at the ends of the members 18, and the character 24 indicates threaded portions of the vertical rods 25, which threaded portions pass freely through the collars 23, the threaded portions 24 being threadably engaged with the members 26, which can be rotated by means of the handles 27. The character 24a indicates abutment members resting upon the collars 23, which members 24a are attached to the members 26, and which members can be rotated if desired by means of wrenches or the like.

The character 28 indicates a series of sections having the side walls 29 and the flanges 30, the flanges 30 including the spaced openings 31, any one of the openings 31 being bolted as at 32 to the lower ends of the rods 25.

The various sections 28 are pivoted together as at 33 and also include the clips 34 and clips 35 which are to be engaged to also secure the sections together. The various sections 23 are made of a variety of lengths so as to accommodate the various widths in the crown of the roadway to be finished, the various openings 31 permitting attachment to the rods 25 at any point to accommodate this feature. The character 36 indicates end sections having similar fianges 30, etc.

The various sections 28 include the top walls 37 through which pass the vertical lengthened bolts 3S threadably engaged with the securing nuts 39, these bolts terminating in the lower collars 40, the lower ends of the bolts 38 terminating in the portions 41 which are secured to the members 42, which members 42 are securely attached to the lower screed member 43 having the side walls 44, the nuts 39 permitting adjustment so that the screed portion 43 can be adjustably raised or lowered. Receiving the bolts 38 are the helical springs 45, these springs providing complete resiliency to the lower screed portions.

It will be noted from FIGURE 2 that there are two complete series of the various sections 28 in spaced relation as shown.

The character 46 indicates keeper members attached to the lower angles 16 and 17 through which the rods 25 operate, and the character 47 indicates vertical plates suitably attached at the ends of the frameworks by means of the bolts 4S, the character 49 indicating a series of openings whereby the framework angles lil-etc. can be raised or lowered with respect to the plates 47 in order to provide vertical adjustment of the framework and wherein the bolts 48 can be selectively placed for this purpose.

Attached to the upper ends of the plates 47 are the attaching lmembers 50 to provide means whereby the units can be lifted by means of suitable derricks or the like for the portability feature to be described later herein.

Attached to an end member 18 is an arm 51 to which is pivotally attached at 52 a piston rod 53 operated by the hydraulic cylinder 54 suitably attached at 55.

The character 56 (see FIGURE 2) indicates a gasoline or other engine which drives a pump 57 which is adapted to supply pressure to the oil within the reservoir 58, which oil is adapted to provide the hydraulic pressure to the various units described, the character 59 indicating a hydraulic motor which drives a sprocket chain 60, which in turn drives the sprockets 61, which sprockets 61 drive the rollers 62 w-hich rest upon the I-beams 63 suitably attached as at 64 to the members 65 which in turn are attached to the further members 66, the character 67 indicating generally the ceme-nt on the bridge deck which is to be smoothed and operated on. The I-beams 63 are disposed longitudinally of the bridge deck. The character 68 indicates a further hydraulic motor which drives a further sprocket chain 69 which in tu'rn drives a shaft 70, which shaft drives the cams 7K1, to which cams are pivotally attached at 72 the rods 73 which are pivotally attached :as at 74 in the openings 31, this arrangement thereby providing means for reciprocating the lower screed structures on the concrete, which provides the necessary smoothing action for the purpose intended.

The character 75 indicates a further pair of rollers traveling along similar I-beam members 63 at the other side of the arrangement, which are operated by means of further sprocket chains 76 and sprockets 77, and which are operated hydraulically, as are the 'motors 59 and 68, by means of the motor 77a.

It will be noted that the operation of the hydraulic cylinder 54 will correspondingly swing the arm 51, and attached to the arm at the pivoting point 52 is the lengthened rod 78 which is suitably secured as at 79. Operation of the arm 51 and rod '78 through the arms 22 will correspondingly raise or lower the rods 25. For liner adjustments, rotation of the handles 27 and members 26 will cause the rods 25, through the threaded engagement at 24 with the members 28, to raise or lower the screed portions also.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modification wherein the same units can be used for ordinary street or highway use and not on bridges, the character 80 indicating the track ele.- ments upon which the various rollers 62 and 75 operate.

It will be noted from the foregoing construction that the transverse cross section of the roadway can be readily accommodated regardless of its contour by means of the adjustments provided, and that the variety of segments of the sections will also permit Various widths and the, like to be accommodated.

FIGURES and l1 illustrate lmy 4arrangement for transporting the units, and in this connection the character 81 in FIGURE 10 illustrates a platform element upon which the rear end of the unit rests, the character 82 indicating ears straddling the unit, and the character 83 indicating a long rod suitably attachedl whereby theV carriage unit is rmly secured, the platform 81 being suitably attached to a shaft element 84 upon which the wheels 85 are journalled.

FIGURE 1l illustrates the forward hitch portion wherein the character 86 indicates a platform having the ears 87 and 88 also straddling the unit, the characters 89 andM 90 indicating the securing rods, the character 91 indicating the forward 4hitching portion whereby the unit can be attached to any drawing vehicle to be transported along the highway.

It will now be noted that through the use of the various units 28 of dilferent lengths and the like, the crown of the deck tov be nished can be accommodated to the screed surface, any angularities of the deck can be accommodated, and through the use of the frameworks described, any width of unit can be provided. It will also be notedthat through the agency of the members 26. and the rods 25, etc., the screed surfaces can be vertically :adjusted to any desired height, and through the agency of the plates 47 the frameworks canv `also be. adjustedi vertically, so that lby virtue of all these members any desired adjustment can be effected.

It will also be noted that through the agency of the cams 71 and rods 73 a reciprocating action is applied to the entire screed to smooth oif the cement as the device travels along the rails.

The rod 78 provides for a uniform and precise adj-ustment to the lifting effects of the arms 119 and 20 since the rody 78 when installed will be placed through, the openings` inthe blocks 78a whichl are pivotally attached to the arms 22, and when the screws 79h are all tightened,

the positioning of the various members will be accurate. The hydraulic cylinder 54 can be actuated whenever desired to raise the screed surfaces from the concrete and to replace the same.

Also, by adjustably positioning the nuts 39 (see FIG- URE 4) the screed surfaces `43 can be sloped or slanted in the direction of travel of the unit, whereby for instance a lower positioning of the surface `at the right of FIGURE -4 will provide a desired smoothing action, etc.

Also, any desired curvature can be provided along the surface 43 as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 3 by adjustably positioning any of the nuts 39 along the lateral extent of the machine. This feature is very important in finishing machine devices, 4and in this manner, any curve or control of the surface 43 is provided.

For locking or securely holding the ends of screed surface 43 the various members shown in FIGURES 6 and l2 are provided. These members include the spaced screws 92 threadably engaged with the nuts 93 w-hich are attached to the horizontal portions 94 of the end members 36, the lower ends of the screws 92 bearing at 9S against the strap 96 attached at 97 to the flanges 44. The character 98 indicates a bolt and the character 99 a nut for additionally securing the ends.

Many further advantages will be :apparent from the description given hereinabove, and it will now be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of fmy invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bridge deck nisher adapted to be supported on rails, a bridge deck iinisher member mounted for movement along said rails and comprising a transversely positioned framework, lower screed members secured to said framework and suspended therefrom, said screed members being of various lengths and being articulated with respect to each other whereby :said screed members will conform to an `upper concrete surface, said screed members including housings, lower screed concrete finishing portions resiliently suspended from said housings, `and including adjustable bolts suspended from said housings, springs receiving said bolts, said springs 'being in abutment' with said :housings and said lower screed concrete finishing portions, means for adjustably positioning said screed housings including a plurality of vertically positioned rods attached to said framework, means for adjustably positioning said rods vertically, said means includingV collars receiving said vertically positioned rods, arms pivotally attached to said collars, and to said framework, transverse shafts pivotally attached to said collars, further arms attached to said transverse shafts, means for rotating said shafts to vertically raise and lower said rods, saidV rotating means including a longitudinally positioned further rod pivotally -attached to said further arms, means for moving said further rod.

2. The structure of claim 1, and including vertically positioned tubes threadably engaged with the upper ends of said vertically positioned rods for further vertical adjustment. of said vertically positioned rods, said tubes bearing against saidcollars.

3. The structure of claim Zand including means for reciprocating said screed housings including driven cams, pitman rods lpivotally secured to `said cams and to said screed housings, further means for adjustably positioning said screed members with respect to said framework including Vertical plates attached to said framework, said vertical plates having a plurality of vertically spaced openings, means for selectively bolting said vertical plates to said framework thro-ugh certain of said openings, said 5 6 screed housings `having a plurality of spaced openings 2,452,289 10/1948 Bryson 14-72 for attachment to the lower ends of said vertically posi- 2,914,994 12/1959 Pollitz 94-45 tioned rods. 2,999,433 9/1961 Baltes 94-45 4. The structure of claim 3, and wherein said articu- 3,051,062 8/1962 Apel 94-45 lated screed members are mutually pivoted. 5 3,113,494 12/1963 Barnes 94-45 3,164,072 1/1965 Blankenship 94 45 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,600,242 9/1926 Ord 94-45 2,358,085 9/1944 Millikin 94-45 FOREIGN PATENTS 854,942 11/1960 Great Britain.

1 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Emmer. 

1. A BRIDGE DECK FINISHER ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED ON RAILS, A BRIDGE DECK FINISHER MEMBER MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG SAID RAILS AND COMPRISING A TRANSVERSELY POSITIONED FRAMEWORK, LOWER SCREED MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID FRAMEWORK AND SUSPENDED THEREFROM, SAID SCREED MEMBERS BEING OF VARIOUS LENGTHS AND BEING ARTICULATED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WHEREBY SAID SCREED MEMBERS WILL CONFORM TO AN UPPER CONCRETE SURFACE, SAID SCREED MEMBERS INCLUDING HOUSINGS, LOWER SCREED CONCRETE FINISHING PORTIONS RESILIENTLY SUSPENDED FROM SAID HOUSINGS, AND INCLUDING ADJUSTABLE BOLTS SUSPENDED FROM SAID HOUSINGS, SPRINGS RECEIVING SAID BOLTS, SAID SPRINGS BEING IN ABUTMENT WITH SAID HOUSINGS AND SAID LOWER SCREED CONCRETE 